May 23, 2008
News for Otakon 2008:
Otakon 2008 announces Japanese voice actor Kappei Yamaguchi
First US appearance for star of Inuyasha, Death Note, and Ranma 1/2Baltimore, Maryland (23 May 2008) – Voice actor Kappei Yamaguchi will make his debut US convention appearance as a special guest at Otakon® 2008.
Kappei Yamaguchi is a seiyuu (voice actor) best known for his work as the title character in hit anime series Inuyasha and Ranma 1/2. Most recently, he voiced the brilliant investigator "L" in the hit show, Death Note.
Yamaguchi is one of Japan's most popular and prolific voices, with several dozen significant anime roles to his credit, in addition to work in video games and Japanese dubs of US shows. Most of his roles are heroic teenage boys, with the occasional adult or child, and rare villain. He's the voice of "Usopp" in One Piece, teenage "Shin'ichi" in Meitante Conan (known in the US as Case Closed), and "Daisaku" in Giant Robo. He took a rare villainous turn as "Hugh" in Kiba. Currently he's playing "Taro" in Eyeshield 21. Japanese fans will also know him as the voice of "Bugs Bunny" and South Park's "Kyle". On top of all that, he sings, performing theme songs for many of the anime he's starred in, (including Ranma 1/2 and Eyeshield 21).
This announcement was timed to coincide with Mr. Yamaguchi's 43rd birthday.
ABOUT OTAKON AND OTAKORP, INC.: Now entering its fifteenth year, Otakon is an annual celebration of Japanese and East Asian popular culture, and also one of the largest gatherings of fans in the United States. Otakon celebrates popular culture as a gateway to deeper understanding of Asian culture, and has grown along with the enthusiasm for anime, manga, video games, and music from the Far East. Since 1999, Otakon has been held in Baltimore, Maryland; currently, Otakon is one of Baltimore's few large, city-wide events, drawing over 22,000 individual members for three days each year (for a paid attendance of over 60,000 "turnstile" attendees). Otakon is a membership-based convention sponsored by Otakorp, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based, 501(c)3 educational non-profit whose mission is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, primarily through its media and entertainment. Otakorp, Inc. is directed by an all-volunteer, unpaid staff – we are run by fans, for fans.
For more information about Otakorp, Inc., see http://www.otakon.com/otakorp/index.asp
For more information and the latest news on Otakon 2008, see http://www.otakon.com/
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